Special Collections and Archives

The Bettmann Collection

at Florida Atlantic University's
S.E. Wimberly Library

A Finding Aid

Container List:

Box 1: Papers

Folder 1: Biographical Sketches
Folder 2: Correspondence (1978-1998)
Folder 3: Journal Publications
Folder 4: Press Releases & Announcements
Folder 5: Tributes & Reminiscences (1998)
Folder 6: Miscellaneous

• Folder 1: Biographical Sketches

  • 1961 Copy of three-page article on OB published in Current Biography.

  • 09/26/78 two-page typed biographical sketch entitled, "About Dr. Otto L. Bettmann and the Bettmann Archive Inc" issued as part of Random House publishers press release.

  • 1989 Copy of two-page article on OB published in Biographical Dictionary of American Journalism.

  • 1998 Copy of 14-page biographical sketch entitled, "Otto Bettmann, Portrait of a Bookman" by Anthony F. Verdesca, Jr., library & information science student.

  • n.d. two-page typed biographical sketch entitled, "Dr. Otto L. Bettmann." Author unknown.

• Folder 2: Correspondence (1978-1998)

  • n.d. Copy of one-page handwritten memorandum of OB addressed to "Louise" re: suggested photo to accompany press release.

  • 09/11/78 Copy of one-page signed handwritten note of OB to Adelaide Snyder, director of FAU University Relations re: publication of his book, The Bettmann Archive History of the World. Signed, on "Bettmann Archive" letterhead.

  • 09/26/78 Copy of one-page typed letter of OB addressed to Adelaide Snyder re: the publication of The Bettmann Archive History of the World.

  • 09/29/78 Copy of one-page typed letter of OB addressed to Adelaide Snyder re: publication of The Bettmann Archive History of the World. Signed, on "Bettmann Archive" letterhead.

  • 10/22/78 Copy of one-page handwritten note of OB addressed to Adelaide Snyder re: his appearance on "The Today Show." Signed, including handwritten memorandum signed by "EBB;" on personalized monographed stationary.

  • 08/29/78 Copy of one-page typed letter of OB addressed to Adelaide Snyder re: announcement of fall course in "Oral & Visual History" at FAU; signed (by OB secretary), on "Bettmann Archive" letterhead.
  • 04/03/90 Copy of one-page handwritten letter of OB addressed to "Mrs. Hinton" re: Bach convocation. Signed, onn FAU Libraries letterhead.

  • 10/26/92 Copy of one-page typed letter of William Miller, Director of FAU Libraries, addressed to the Friends of the FAU Libraries re: reception honoring OB on the occasion of the publication of his autobiography; on FAU Libraries letterhead.

  • 11/09/92 Copy of one-page typed letter of ?? addressed to William Miller re: reception honoring OB on the occasion of the publication of his autobiography; on personal letterhead.

  • 11/30/92 Copy of one-page typed form letter from William Miller re: reception honoring OB on the occasion of the publication of his autobiography; unsigned, on FAU Libraries letterhead.

  • 12/02/92 Copy of one-page faxed, typed letter from Walda Metcalf, Associate Director & Editor-in-Chief of University Press of Florida, addressed to William Miller re: reception honoring OB on the occasion of the publication of his autobiography; signed, on University Press of Florida letterhead.

  • 02/03/93 Copy of one-page typed letter from Lynn Klein Laurenti, Assistant Vice President for University Relations, addressed to ?? re: OB autobiography & possible feature article on OB. Signed, on FAU letterhead.

  • 02/23/93 Copy of one-page typed letter from Lynn Klein Laurenti addressed to Rebecca Sinkler, Book Review Editor of the New York Times Book Review, re: possible review of OB autobiography. Signed, on FAU letterhead.

  • 08/23/93 Copy of one-page typed letter from William Miller to Anthony James Catanese, President of FAU, "through Don Taylor, Development and Alumi Affairs" re: re-naming rare books room for OB. Unsigned, on FAU Libraries letterhead.

  • 08/25/93 Copy of one-page typed letter from Anthony James Catanese addressed to William Miller re: re-naming rare books room for OB. Signed, on FAU letterhead. Contains three extraneous memos by other department personnel (two pages).

  • 01/28/93 Copy of one-page typed letter from Lynn Klein Laurenti to Bill Moran, CBS News "Sunday Morning" re: possible interview of OB. Signed, on FAU letterhead.

  • 02/22/96 Copy of one-page typed letter from Kirsty Grant, representative of AKG London, addressed to "Sir/Madam" at FAU Libraries re: "outstanding pictures--AKG Berlin." Signed, on AKG London letterhead with computer-generated overdue notice listing outstanding items (photos) attached; together with copy of typed letter of response from Dee Cael, Head of FAU Libraries Special Collections & Archives, to Kirsty Grant re: "outstanding pictures." Signed, faxed letter.

  • 12/19/97 Holiday greeting card from Chie & James Trager (of New York City) addressed to OB. Unsigned.

  • 06/05/98 One-page typed letter from "Ann" of Nova Southeastern College of Dental Medicine, addressed to Donald Homer, Development Director, FAU Libraries re: dedication of research wing of library to OB's memory. Signed, on Nova Southeastern College letterhead.

  • 09/14/98 One-page typed letter from Steven Leveen of Levenger (of Delray Beach) addressed to Anthony F. Verdesca, Jr., Library & Information Science student, re: reminiscences of OB. Signed, on Levenger letterhead.

• Folder 3: Journal Publications

  • 1930 "Elements of New German Typography." Penrose Annual (1930): 116-121.

  • 1982 "Bach at Potsdam." American Scholar 52.x (1982): 81-87.

  • 1986 "Bach the Rhetorician." American Scholar 55.x (1986): 113-118.

• Folder 4: Press Releases & Announcements

  • 03/22/76 One-page FAU news release re: "Dr. Bettmann to Speak on 'The History of Reading.'"

  • ??/??/78 Seven-page Random House press release re: publication of The Bettmann Archive Picture History of the World including interview transcript and biographical sketch.

  • 11/03/78 Two-page FAU release re: publication of The Bettmann Archive Picture History of the World.

  • 05/23/79 Two-page release re: "FAU to Confer Three Honorary Degrees" (including OB).

  • 06/11/79 Three-page FAU release re: "Bettmann Archive Founder Receives Honorary Degree from FAU" includes biographical sketch.

  • 08/30/79 Two-page FAU release re: "FAU's O'Sullivan and Bettmann to Team-teach."

  • 09/06/79 Two-page FAU release re: "Innovative History Courses Offered at FAU" includes "Oral and Visual History" course taught by OB.

  • 09/19/79 Two-page Max Veale Associates release re: "Seminar on Photos. Graphics Offered by Otto Bettmann" including memo to Adelaide Snyder of FAU University Relations.

  • ??/??/90 Seven-page release (of unknown issue) re: "Promotion of Miami Bach Society Concert Series by Otto Bettmann" including copies of "Announcement of Concert" held at FAU.

  • 10/26/92 Eight-page E.I.-RAM TWO Communications release re: publication of The Picture Man including book excerpts, biographical sketch, copy of New York Times Book Review advertisement, and video production script.

  • 12/03/92 One-page FAU release re: "Bettmann Archive Founder Tells Tales of his Life in New Book" (The Picture Man).

  • 12/13/92 Two flyers announcing The Picture Man book-signing by OB at Liberties bookstore in Boca Raton; includes five-page signed guestlist.

  • n.d. Announcement of publication of The Picture Man with anecdotes of OB written by Herman Herst, Jr.

  • n.d. Two-page review copy of excerpts of The Picture Man.

  • n.d. One-page Max Veale Associates press release re: "A Few Words about Otto Bettmann."

• Folder 5: Tributes & Reminiscences (1998)

  • 06/04/98 "A Celebration of Otto L. Bettmann." Program for special event commemorating OB. Held at the Florida Atlantic University Board of Regents Room. Event speakers included:
    • William Miller
    • David Gottlieb
    • Arthur Jaffe
    • Mel Kalfus
    • Kenneth Keaton
    • Ron McCormick
    • George Meyerson
    • Ann Page
    • Skip Sheffield
    • Lana Thompson
    • Jean Trebbi.

    Written tributes have been submitted to the archive by:

    • Faith Berry
    • Richard Beattie Davis & Gillian Davis
    • Ron McCormick
    • George & Virginia Meyerson
    • Ann Page
    • Tim Smith

• Folder 6: Miscellaneous

  • Description of "Pictorial History & Research," a course taught at FAU in the fall of 1979 and drawn-up by OB.

  • Copy of proposed FAU news release re: Introduction to Visual and Oral History (1979?) written by OB; includes syllabus.

  • Unpublished four-page feature article re: OB by Skip Sheffield of the Boca Raton News.

  • "Bettmann," "The Bettmann Archive," "Bettmann Newsphotos." 1991 brochure providing information on the holdings of the Bettmann Archive together with policies and procedures for borrowing.

  • Copy of proposal written by OB in an effort to solicit interest to produce the "Eternally Feminine" archives.

  • Copies of discussions re: archives; culled from the "Archives" listserv on the Internet.

  • Computer-generated multipage print-out of FAU faculty invitation list, 11/23/92.

  • Copy of article, "A Few Principles of Typography" by Felix Janssens in Emigre Fall 1995, in which reference is made to a 1930's article by OB.

  • Copy of an excerpt of the chapter, "Fugue" in The Forms of Music by Andre Hodeir.

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  Last updated: 28 August 2001 by Anthony Verdesca
  URL: http://www.library.fau.edu/depts/spc/betfind2.htm
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